Quote:
Originally Posted by jthig32
...There's no way to settle this argument, but the fact that Sanders is even in the discussion against a back like Emmit, given Emmit's line and really his entire offensive team, is a testament to how amazing Sanders was.
The only concession I am willing to make on Sanders vs Emmitt is that Emmitt was in fact better suited for a team like the Cowboys, that had playmakers elsewhere and did not need the gamebreaker running back. But believe me, if Barry Sanders had ever run for the Cowboys, there would have been a lot less dancing behind the line and a lot more touchdowns.
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It's necessary to put some things into context -- the '92-95 Cowboys were among the greatest football teams ever assembled. So, to say that Smith had that player and that other player on the football team and therefore he was able to do what he did because he had these great players around him rather misses the point that the team would not have been among the greatest ever had Smith not been so great himself. Of course Aikman was great, as was Irvin -- but that doesn't diminish Smith's greatness.
the thing is....8 men in the box is 8 men in the box whether you've Michael Irvin on the outside or Herman Moore (a damn fine receiver, btw). And Smith was as likely to see 8 in the box as Sanders. Having Alvin Harper on the outside did not make Emmitt Smith a better player, and on 3rd and goal from the two it really doesn't matter whether the guy handing the runningback the ball is a hall-of-famer or Rodney Peete.
The Cowboys had other weapons on that team, of course they did--Smith made them offensive weapons. Smith made Jay Novacek and Alvin Harper -- opposing teams would put a safety in the box and linebackers were all keying on Smith all the time, hence Harper and Novacek were always running free. Hell, Harper's last season with the Cowboys was more productive than the remainder of his career elsewhere.
And again with the offensive line thing...
Smith's running style was very conducive to making an offensive line look great, and his ability to keep them out of third and longs did wonders for the pass protection. People forget that Smith was a pro-bowler behind virtually the same offensive line that carried the cowboys to a 1-15 record in '89.